Police are investigating two paramilitary style assaults in Newtownabbey, which they do not believe are linked.

One man was taken to hospital after being attacked by a gang of five or six masked men in Clonmore Walk.

It's believed they used bats and hammers during the attack at around 10.50 last night.

This incident was confined to the front door area of the flat.

Another man was attacked in his bed by two armed intruders in Bawnbore Park at around 2am.

District Commander for Antrim & Newtownabbey, Superintendent Sue Steen, said “We are currently treating both these incidents as paramilitary style attacks.

“These two brutal assaults left both victims with a number of injuries requiring hospital treatment.

"A person’s home should be a place where they feel safe, not a place where thugs feel they can freely enter and reign their terror down on their victims. There is no place for this vicious behaviour in a civilised society.

“I would appeal to anyone who saw any suspicious activity or vehicles in these areas to contact detectives at Newtownabbey on the non-emergency number 101."